Infections During Pregnancy: Which Can Harm You or Your Fetus, and How to Lower the Risk

Most common infections — a cold, a skin infection — don't usually cause serious problems during pregnancy. Some, such as the flu, can be more severe in pregnancy. And some can harm the pregnant person, the fetus, or both.

What they can cause

Certain infections in pregnancy may lead to problems for the fetus, including:

• preterm birth;
• low birth weight;
• serious illness;
• birth defects;
• lifelong disabilities, such as hearing loss or learning problems.

Infections that can be harmful

• Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
• Group B strep (GBS)
• Cytomegalovirus
• Hepatitis
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Toxoplasmosis
• Urinary tract infections
• Yeast infections
• Zika virus

Symptoms

It can be hard to know what's normal in pregnancy, and symptoms vary from one infection to another. Ask your health care provider what to watch for and how to stay healthy — and if something worries you, tell them, so an infection can be found and treated early.

Treatment

If you get an infection while pregnant, contact your provider about the treatment that best protects you and your fetus. Only some medicines are safe during pregnancy.

Lowering the risk

Early and regular prenatal care can help find and treat infections early. To lower your risk of some infections and prevent others:

• Don't eat raw or undercooked meat.
• Don't share food or drinks.
• Wash your hands often.
• Don't clean litter boxes — cats can pass on toxoplasmosis.
• Ask your provider about vaccinations.
• If you have sex, use a condom every time.

Sources

Based on "Infections and Pregnancy," MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, drawing on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health; a work of the United States government in the public domain.